Counterweights for lighter scopes?

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

I currently have two of these counterweights:

http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tr...oductview.aspx

One of these is enough for my 127 MAK however when using my PST one is too heavy for it.

Are there counterweights maybe half the weight of one of those that I can get somewhere? Wondering if they exist or not...?

Even second hand would be better!

I am trying to align my mount with the Sun but it always starts to drift out of view. I am just using the PST on the mount with the L bracket adapter. Is not having the counterweight making the Sun drift out of view or would it be my true North heading?

Cheers,
Stefan.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

I am trying to align my mount with the Sun but it always starts to drift out of view. I am just using the PST on the mount with the L bracket adapter. Is not having the counterweight making the Sun drift out of view or would it be my true North heading?

Stefan, I would have thought a PST was light enough an HEQ5 could cope without much in the way of weights. Maybe a good size fishing sinker and some gaffer tape. Did you slide the weight as far up the shaft as it would go? Everything is clamped down tightly enough so the adapter is not slipping?

The Sun drifts in declination so even if you are tracking at a solar rate it won't stay centered. Having said that, the drift is small. Any error in polar alignment will cause a bigger drift.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Stefan, I would have thought a PST was light enough an HEQ5 could cope without much in the way of weights. Maybe a good size fishing sinker and some gaffer tape. Did you slide the weight as far up the shaft as it would go? Everything is clamped down tightly enough so the adapter is not slipping?

The Sun drifts in declination so even if you are tracking at a solar rate it won't stay centered. Having said that, the drift is small. Any error in polar alignment will cause a bigger drift.

Oh crap, I forgot to do a proper polar alignment!

I slid the weight as far up as possible but it was still not enough and everything was clamped down.

[MattT]

Skywatcher do a 1.8kg weight. Bintel had one a couple of weeks ago, give em a ring.
Matt

[raymo]

Might sound silly, but I assume that you are sliding the shaft up, as well as the weight.
raymo

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Those Velcro wrist weights you see at Target/ KMart might be what you need.

[LewisM]

Vixen weights fit the HEQ5 without any alterations required, and their smallest counterweight is 1.9kg.

You can get it here: http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-033L

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Was able to get one from a member here.

Cheers everyone!